Clothesline prop



July s, nez@o 1,500,530

R. J. RILEY cLoTHEsLINE PROP Filed July 2. 1923 l .l :Il lv-Amd,- vw

FMLA.- F1655. [II I" .A17 7 ky". S mm.

s xcHARD d. Rimini Patented `iuly 8, 1924.

RICHARD J'. RILEY, OF JENNINGS, MISSOURI.

CLOTHESLINE PROP.

Application led July 2,

To Vall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I', RICHARD J. RILEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ennings, in the county of St. Louisand State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothesline Props,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to clothes line props, and aims to providenovel and improved means for fastening the'prop andv linetogether toprevent accidental separation thereof, as well as preventing the line(and prop from moving out of position relatively to one another. a p

Another object is the provision of aline gripping member of novelformationto be carried by a clothes line prop, which member can bereadily lbent from wire, and which will effectively and convenientlyfasten the line to the prop.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent asthedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of parts ,as hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes can be made within the scope "of what isclaimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.A

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper terminal of a clothes propshowing the gripping member or clip thereon in open or releasedposition.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing the gripping member or clip inclosed or gripping position.

Fig. 3 is an edge view with the clip in the position as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections on the respective lines 4-4 and 5-5 ofFig. 2.

The clothes line prop 7, usually Vconstructed of wood, is provided nearits upper end with an inclined slot 8 opening at one edge of the propfor receiving the clothes line 9, said slot being provided at its innerend with a downwardly extending notch or seat 10 for the line.

The line gripping member or clip 11 is disposed at one side ofthe prop,and is slidable in the transverse wire guides 12, 13 and 14 disposed atsaid side of the prop and having their terminals engaged or driven intothe prop, as seen in Fig. 4. Said guides 1923. Serial No. 649,662.

guide the clip 11 for longitudinal sliding movement and also holds theclip against the side of the prop.

The clip or member r11 is bent from a length of resilient wire, and hasthe upwardly-extending arms 15 slidable behind the guides 12, 13 and 14,with the terminals of the wire at the upper ends of said arm bentintoeyes 16 providing finger pieces for. springing of the arms 15 .towardone another and to slide the clip lengthwise. The `clip 11 has V-shapegripping or pinching portion 17 disposed between and connecting thelower ends of the arms 15 and slidable behind the guide 14 across theslot 8. The arms 15 are provided between their ends with offsets orshoulders 18 .to move below the guide 13 and to engage under the endyportions of said guide when the clip is slid downwardly to grippingposition, as seen in Fig. 2.

In order to limit theV upward movement ofthe clip and to prevent thewithdrawal of the clip from the prop, pins or stops 19 are driven orengaged in the side of the prop under the guide 13 and above the slot 8,Vbetween the arms 15, for the contact of said arms when the .switch isslid upwardly to raise the arms 15 and portion 17 above the slot, asseen in Fig. 1. The stops 19 have their outer ends bent at an angle, asat 20, to engage across the arms 15 when the clip vis in raisedposition.

When the clip -11 is in raised position, as seen in Fig. 1, it isretracted from the slot 8, thereby permitting the clothes line 9 to bemoved into or removed from the slot 8. In order to grip the line andsecure it to the prop, the clip 11 is slid downwardly, therebyprojecting same across the slot 8 and behind the guide 14, and theV-shaped gripping portion 17 will grip the line 9, said line beingwedged into the portion 17, so as to be pinched by said portion, theportion 17 springing open slightly, due to its resiliency, in order togrip or pinch the iine between the arms or side portions thereof. In thegripping position of the clip 11, the oifsets or shoulders 18 are movedbelowV the guide 13, and the arms 15 springing apart will move saidoffsets or shoulders under the end portions of the guide 13, therebypreventing the clip from moving upwardly accidentally relatively to theprop. This will retain the clip in gripping position. By pressing thefinger pieces 16 toward 011e another to spring the arms 15 toward oneanother, the offsets or shoulders 18 are moved toward one anothersufficiently so that they can pass upwardly through the guide 13. Theclip can then be slid upwardly to retract it from the slot 8 and line 9,whereby the prop and line can be separated. The stops 19 limit theupward movement of the clip.

rlhe clip 11, guides 12, 13 and '14 and stops 19iare all composed ofwire, so as to be ineXpensively made.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Aclothes line prop having a line receiving slot, a line gripping cliphaving re-V silient arms and a V-shaped gripping por- Y tionbetween saidarms to move across said slot for gripping the line in said portion, andguiding means for the clip carried by the prop7 said arms beingengageable with said guiding means toV hold the clip in line grippingposition and having linger pieces for disengaging the arms from'said.means and for moving the clip in said means from said position.

2. A clothes line prop having a line re ceiving slot, a linegrippingresilient-clip having arms and a V-shaped gripping portionbetween said arms to move across said slot for gripping a line in saidportion, and guiding' means forthe clip in which said arms are movabletoward and away from said slot, said arms having linger pieces i'ormoving said clip. y

3. A clothes line prop having a line receiving slot, a line grippingclip to project across said slot for gripping the line, and guidingmeans for the clip carried by the prop in which the clip is slidable,said clip having resilient means to engagethe guiding means when theVclip is in line lgripping positionto hold the clip in suoli position andadapted to be sprung out of engagement romisaid means for sliding theclip from said position.

4. A clothes line prop having a line receiving slot, a line grippingclip having a gripping portion to project across said slot tor gripping'the line, and guiding means for the clip carried by said prop in whichthe clip is slidable, the clip having resilient portions to engage theguiding means for holding the clip in line gripping position and adaptedtobe sprung outfof engagement from said means for sliding the clip fromsuch position. i Y

5. A clothes line prop having a line receiving slot, a linegrippingiclip having a line gripping portion to extend across said slotand grip the line, and guiding means for the Y clip carried by the propin which theA clip is slidable, said clip having resilient arms withoffsets to engage said guiding means when the clip is'slidto grippingposition'to hold theclip in such position and adapted to be' disengaged'from the, guiding Vmeans by.

springing said arms toward one another to permit the clip to be slidfrom such position.

6;A clotheslineprop having a line receiving slot,`a line gripping cliphaving resilient arms Vand a V-shaped gripping portion between said armsto move across Vsaid slot for gripping the line in said portion,V

"-RroHARD animar'.

in said posi-

